The Fond du Lac Area United Way kicked off its 2013 community campaign drive celebrating 65 years of fundraising in the Fond du Lac area.

The celebration was held earlier this month at Marian University's Stayer Center with a light breakfast and program. Approximately 130 people attended. "This year signals 65 years of fundraising in Fond du Lac," said Andy Winget, United Way board president. Since 1948 we have raised nearly $25 million. It's very fulfilling to know that we have helped so many people through the generosity of so many donors.

Mike Shannon, CEO of Holiday Automotive is serving as this year's Honorary Campaign Chair for United Way and co-pace setter with FIVE Giddings and Lewis. "Each year pace-setters raise awareness of the annual campaign drive and the many causes addressed with local organizations," said Tina Potter, United Way Executive Director. Over 19,000 individuals and families were helped last year through programs funded by United Way and thousands more over the past years.

"The United Way community campaign funds many local organizations who serve thousands of people with different needs, including emergency shelter, food and clothing for children, mental health counseling, volunteerism, adult literacy, budget counseling, respite care for the disabled, youth mentoring, senior outreach, after-school and youth mentoring, disaster relief and more," said Potter.

"United Way's 2013 fundraising goal of $740,000 represents a one percent increase over last year," said Winget. We are launching the campaign with $145, 242 which is a great place to start off. Together the pace-setters raised $76,162. "We are all excited about their results and it serves as an inspiration to other company campaigns," Potter said. We have nearly 3,000 donors and the majority of them donate through workplace campaigns. It also includes corporate giving, and individuals like retirees," said Winget.

The kick-off program included two personal stories by individuals benefitting from programs funded by United Way; ASTOP - Protective Behaviors Program and Badgerland Youth for Christ - Teen Parenting Program.

Potter said that slightly less than $400,000 in allocations supports programs serving children and youths. Breaking cycles of generational poverty is our highest priority and our allocations back that up.

The backbone of United Way giving is through workplace campaigns, "said Tina Potter, Fond du Lac Area United Way executive director. Payroll giving is a favorite and affordable way for donors to give," said Potter. An payroll donation pledge is deducted from a paycheck by as many payroll periods a company does. Payroll donations pledged this year by a donor are not deducted until the following year. Donors doing payroll deduction report that it is affordable and gratifying to be able to give to a favorite cause over a year's time.

"This year we are reaching out to a number of new employers asking them to hold an employee campaign," said Potter. An increase in workplace campaigns results in a nice boost to the organizations we partner with.

Donations of every type are valued by us. The uniqueness of workplace campaigns is that they offer employees an affordable way to give and supports giving by the corporation they are employed by. Many local people benefit from this campaign drive and with everyone's help programs like ASTOP Education Prevention and Badgerland Youth for Christ can be funded.

Donations can be made to United Way at 74 S. Main St., FDL, WI 54935; or on-line at www.fdlunitedway.org; or through company payroll-giving.